>>Truly autistic children do not interact with others,
>>they don't make eye contact, and they don't attend
>>school, basketball games, nor play in them.
Allow me to say you have no idea what you are talking about.
>>With the addition of the learning disabled, the
>>retarded, and other disabilities added to the category
>>of autistic there's no way to know the truth.
My son is intelligent, physically perfect (normal) was diagnosed as autistic when he was three. He started as a nonverbal, non-interacting Autistic. We hired a speech therapist who specializes in Autism. She worked with him for six months before he started school. He has come a long way since he was diagnosed. We have had him in a special school for four years (which cost over a thousand dollars a month 12 months a year). I took extra jobs, got up a 6 AM. For four years to drive him up to the school, my wife stayed home, volunteered at the school so she could learn the techniques and we could apply them at home.
My son now talks up a storm about videos that are coming out, or his game boy. He still has issues, but it takes most people about a half an hour to figure out what is wrong. He will be able to play sports, and he will continue to improve. To say there is not help and no hope is a cruel, and ignorant statement.
Prod dad of an autistic son.
There are known cases where autistic children have had tremendous progress.
Nice to know you had so much success with your personal situation.